Core taking apparatus



M arc h 5, 1935. G. J. BARRETT in AL Re. 19,483

CORE TAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1March 5, 1935.

I G. J. BARRETT ET AL CORE TAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 14, 19292 sheets-Shah 2 Reissued Mar. 5, 1935- PATENT OFFICE CORE G APPARATUSGeorge J. Barrett and assignors to Reed Roller Bit Houston, Tex.,'

Sosthene Robichaux,

Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Original No. 1,847,424,dated March 1,

Serial No.

' 10 Claims.

- This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a core takingapparatus. I One object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus ofthe character described that may be readily assembled with a drillingtool and whereby a core of the strata being pierced may be readilyformed and withdrawn to the surface for inspection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed whereby the core, as formed, may be preserved intact anduncontaminated and withdrawn independent of the drill stem to which thedrill it attached.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of novelmeans whereby the core forming apparatus may be locked to rotate withthe drill stem and released to permit its withdrawal independent of thestem.

A still further feature of the invention is to ,1 provide, in apparatusof the character described,

a core barrel which is yieldingly mounted in the drill stem so that whenthe core forming bit encounters hard strata the barrel and core bit willyield to relieve the stress. and prevent breakage of the barrel or corebit.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of-parts an example of whichis given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

.Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the drill anddrill stem with 'the core taking device therein, i

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the coretaking device, assembled with the drill stein.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary vertical; sectional view of a fishing toolemployed.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary view of an intermediate section'of the coretaking device as sembled with the drill stein. v 7

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4,

Figure 6 shows a side elevation of the upper end of the core takingapparatus, partly in section and shown in released position.

Referring now particularly to the drawings,

wherein like-numerals of reference designate similar parts in each ofthe figures, the numeral 1 designates a drill stem, and a drill bit 2 isattached to the lower-end of said stem, having an axial bore 3; There isa core barrel-comprising the upper and lower sections 4 and 5. The

lower end of thecore barrel is fitted through they 5, 1934, Serial No.

bore 3 and the core forming bit 6 is attached thereto, and preferablyextends beneath the bit 2. The barrel section 5 has an annular rib Itherearound which serves to center it in the stem 1 and the sections 4and 5 are preferably connected by threads in the conventional manner.Threaded into the upper end of the barrel there is a valve casing 8having an axial channel 9 therethrou'gh whose upper end is enlargedforming a valve chamber 10 in which the ball valve 11 is located, saidvalve closing the channel 9 to the passage of fluid downwardly, saidvalve lifting, however, to permit the upward passage of fluid. Threadedinto the upper end of the valve casing 8 thereis a bearing member 8' andworking through this hearing member there is a 'stem 12' which issplined in said gland for lengthwise but non-rotative movement, andattached to the upper end of which there is cylindrical anchor 12 havingopposing vertical slots 13, 13 therein with the intervening web 14between said slots. The lower end of this stem 12' forms a stop limitingthe upward movement of the valve 11, surrounding the stem 12' andinterposed between the enlarged upper end thereof and the gland 8' thereisa strong'coil'spring 5' which serves as a shock absorber for the corebarrel and said barrel to yield upwardly.

There is a tubular housing 15 whose lower end is threaded onto saidanchor and screwed into the upper end of said housing there is a bearingwhich permits member 16 having an axial bearing 17. Fitted in- 51:0 thehousing 15 there is a release head 18 having a stem 19 which worksthrough the bearing forming between them a release wedge 22, whoseopposite sides have upwardly converging faces 23, 23. I oppositelydisposed levers 24, 24 are provided. whose lower ends, 25, 25, areinwardly turned and engage'under the web 14, These levers embrace saidweb andtheir upper ends are inwardly oii'set forming external shoulders,

26,26. Releasing arms 27, 27 are provided whose upper ends are inwardlyturned forming the releasing fingers 28, 28 whose free ends ride uponthe corresponding faces 23,. 23 and beneath said fingers the arms 27 areconnected by the cross limited movement of i links 29 whose ends arepivotally connected to i said arms 27. Thelower ends of arms 2'! arepivoted to the upper ends of the respective levers 24. A section of thedrill stem, as 31,

is enlarged and threaded into the upper end of Interposed between theupper ends of the leversv 24 and extending through an opening in the web14 is a coil .push spring 34. When it is desired to take a core thedevice is assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and let down through thedrill stem and it will be carried downwardly by gravity, until the lowerend of the housing 15 engages the ring 32. 7 The rib '1 will hold theopen barrel centered relative to the bit 2 so that the lower end of saidbarrel will enter the bore 3. The head 18 will be held by gravity in itslower position and when the shoulders 26 pass beneath the ring 32 thespring 34 will force the levers 24 .outwardly causing the shoulders 26to engage under said ring 32. The core barrel will thereby be secured inthe drill stem. As the stem is now rotated to proceed with the drillingoperations, the abutment 33 will engage one of the levers 24 and thiswill force the barrel to rotate with said stem 1 and as drillingproceeds, a core will be formed which will pass into said core barrel.As the barrel is filled with the core any fluid that may be thereinabove the core will be forced out through the channel 9, the valve 11'lifting to permit this. In case the core forming bit 3 encounters a hardstratum the spring 5' will permit the barrel andcore bit to yieldupwardly and injuryor breakage of the said barrel or core'bit will thusbe avoided.

Upstanding from the upper end of the stem 19 there is a conical shapedhead 35. When the core is completed, a fishing tool may be let downthrough the drill stem and engaged with said head 35. An upward pull onsaid fishing tool will first cause the head 18 to move upwardly in thehousing 15 and this in turn will cause the wedge 22 to spread thefingers 28. The lower ends of the arms 2'? will thereby be-movedinwardly releasing the shoulders 26 from the ring 32 as shown in Figure6.

Meanwhile the head 18 will have engaged the lower end of the'bearingmember l6 and. the entire device may be thereupon withdrawn fromthe drill stem by said fishing tool. During the withdrawaloperation thevalve 11 will effectively close the channel-9 and the core will thus'beheld against dropping out of the barrel 5.

Any conventional type of fishing tool may be employed. A preferred typeis shown .in Figure 3 and includes a tubular body 36, having oppositelydisposed dogs3'7, 3'7 pivotally mount ed therein. The lower ends .38, 38of these dogs are inwardly turned and thus adapted to engage under thehead 35 and between the upper ends of said dogs, there is a push spring39 adapted to hold.the dogs in such engagement. The fishing tool may. belet down through a suitable cable, (not shown) and the head 35 willenter between the lower ends of the dogs and spread them and pass abovesaid inwardly turned ends 38 which will thereupon engage under saidhead. When the core taking device has been withdrawn the dogs 37 may be.released from the head 35 by pressing their upper ends inwardly andoppositely disposedopenings 40, 40

have been provided in the body 36 for access to said upper ends for thepurpose indicated.

. While we have shown what we now"c'ons;der to be the preferred form ofthe invention, it is obvious that mechanical changes may be made thereinand equivalents substituted for the parts shown and we reserve the rightto make such mechanical changes and substitutions as may be founddesirable within the scope of the appended claims. c

Lowering a barrel into place by means of a cable is obviouslytime-consuming and expensive in modern wells which are often more than amile deep. Such lowering is rendered unnecessary by this invention.

' It will be understood that the fishing tool shown by Fig. 3 is adaptedfor use only in withdrawing the barrel upwardly thru the stem. It is notused to lower the barrel into place. rel is simply inserted in the drillstem at the surface of the earth and let loose, and descends by gravityinto its core-receiving position. During such descent the levers 24 willnot become caught on any internal shoulders or the like in the drillstem because the levers 24 are free. to move inwardly against theresistance of spring 34 when such shoulders or the like are encountered.Therefore, the barrel will drop from the surface of the earth downwardlyinthe drill stem to the bottom of the drill stem, whereupon the spring34 will automatically move thelevers 24 under the ring 32, whereby thebarrel is held in its core-receiving position.

As is obvious from Fig. 2 showing the relative size of parts'26 and theinternal diameter -of drill stem 1, as the barrel is loweredby gravitythe spring 34 will press parts 26 lightly against the interiorwalls ofthe drill stem 1 and prevent the development of excessive speed offalling by a slight braking action. Obviously this braking action may besupplemented by the existing conditions if the drill stem and well befull of water or drilling mud, as obviously is contemplated, andobviously this braking action may be counteracted by a downwardcirculation of fluid through the drill stem as-is obviously contemplatedin the description of ball valve 11. ln this manner spring 34 permitsthe core barrel to be eased into place without the use of a cable.

What we claim is: c

.1. The combination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling toolattached to the lower end thereof and having an axial bearing, of a corebarrel in the stem whose lower end works through said bearing, said corebarrel, when let loose substantially at the upper end of said drillstem,

The barbarrel and engageable underneath said ring and-' 9 against saidabutment, when said core barrel reaches its core-receiving position.

2. The combination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling tool attachedto the lower end thereof and having an axial bearing, of a core barrelin the stem whose lower end works, through said bearing, said corebarrel,-when let loose substantially at the upper end of said drillstem, being movable by gravity downwardly in said drill stem into itscore-receivingpcsition, a core former at the lower end of the barrel,means holding the core former yieldingly against the formation beingpierced, a ring in the stem having a depending abutment, releasablemeans carried by the barrel and engageable undemea said ring and againstsaid abutment whensaid core barrel reaches its core-receiving position,and a yieldable member normally holding said means in such engagement.

3. The combination with a, hollow drill stem and 'a drilling tool.attached to the lower end thereof and having an axial bearing, of ayieldingly mounted core barrel in the stem whose lower end works throughsaid bearing, said core barrel, when let loose substantially at theupper end of said drill stem, being movable by gravity downwardly insaid drill stem into its corereceiving position, acore former at thelower.

end of the barrel, and working yieldingly against the formation, a ringin the stem having a depending abutment, releasable means carried by thebarrel and engageable underneath said ring and-against said abutmentwhen said core barrel reaches its core-receiving position, a yieldablemember normally holding 'said means in such engagement, and a releasingdevice operatively connected with said means and adapted to release thesame upon upward movement of said device. v

4. The combination witha hollowdrill stem and a drilling tool attachedto the lower end thereof and having an axial bearing, of a corebarrel inthe stem whoselower end works through said bearing, said core barrel,when let loose substantially at the upper end -.of said drill stem,-being movable by gravitydownwardly in said drill stem into itscore-receiving position, a core former at the lower end of-the-barrel,yieldable means adapted to hold the core former against the formationbeing pierced, a ring in the stem having a depending abutment,releasable means carried by the barrel and engageable underneath saidring and against said abutment when said core barrel reaches itscore-receiving position, a

yieldable member normally holding said means in such engagement, 'areleasing device operatively connected with said means and adapted torelease the same upon upward movement of said device, and means attachedto said 'barrel with which the releasing device is adapted to engage,upon upward movement thereof, to effect the withdrawal of said barrelfrom the stem.

5. The combination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling toolattachedto the lower end thereof and having an axial bearing, of ayieldably mounted core barrel in the stem whose lower end is associatedwith said bearing, said core barrel, when let loose substantially at'theupperend of said drill stem, being movable 'by gravity downwardly insaid drilljj stem into its corereceiving position, a core forming toolbeneath the lower end of the stem, an inwardly extending abutment in thestem, releasable means connected to the barrel and engageable underneathsaid abutment when said-core barrel reaches its corereceiving position,means normally maintaining -such engagement, means in the stem withwhich said releasable means is adapted to engage to prevent theindependent rotation of said barrel relative to the stem, andreleasingmechanism connected' to said releasable means and operatable to eflectthe release Jthereof. 7 I

, .6. The combination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling toolattached to the lower end thereof and having 'an axial bearing, of acore barrel in the stem whose lower end is associated .withfsaidbearing, said core barrel,,when let loose substantially at the upper endo'fsaid drill stem,

being movable by gravity downwardly in said ,drill staminto itscore-receiving position, a core forming tool beneath the lower end ofthe stem, I

means effective to hold the core former yieldingly against the formationbeing cored, an'inwardly extending abutment in the stem, releasablemeans connected to the barrel and engageable underneath said abutmentwhen said core barrel reaches its core-receiving position, meansnormally maintaining suchengagement, means in the. stem with which saidreleasable means is adapted to engage to prevent the independentrotation of said barrel relative to the stem, releasing mechanismconnected to said releasable means and operatable to eifect the releasethereof, said mechanism being also operatively connected to said barreland forming meansto withdraw said barrel from .said steml 7. Thecombination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling tool attached to thelower end thereof and having a'vertical opening, of a core barrel in thestem associated'with said opening, said core barrel, when let loosesubstantially at the upper end of said drill stem, being movable bygravity downwardly in said drill stem into its, core-receiving position,a core former at the lower end of the barrel, driving means between thestem and barrel whereby the barrel may be driven from the stem when saidcore barrel reaches its core-receiving position, said driving meansbeing formed to permit the barrel-to move longitudinally relative to thestem and to maintain such driving relation during such movement andyieldable means normally resisting such movement.

8. The combination with a hollow drill stem and a drilling tool at 'thelower end of the stem having an opening, of a core barrel in the stemwhose lower end is associated with said opening,

saidcore barrel, when let loose substantially at the upperend of saiddrill stem, being movable .by gravity downwardly in said drillstem intoits core-receiving position, a core former at the lower and a drillingtool attached to the lower end thereof -,andhaving an axial bearing, ofa core barrel in the stem whose lower end works through said bearing, acore former at the lower end of the barrel, means holding the coreformer yieldingly against the formation being pierced, a ring in thestem having a depending abutment, re-

le'asable means carried by the barrel and engageable underneath saidring and against said abutment, and a yieldable member, normally holdingsaid means in such engagement when said core barrel is in its.core-receiving position, said releasable means being movable by saiddrill stem into its inactive position against the resistance of'saidyieldable member when said core barrel islet loose substantially attheupper end of said drill stem and permitted to descend by gravity in saiddrill steminto its core-receiving position.

10. The combination. with a hollow drill stem and a drilling toolattached to the lower end thereof and having a' vertical opening, of acore barrel in the stem associated with said opening, a core former atthe lower end'of the barrel, driving means between the stem and barrelwhereby the, barrel may be driven from the stem when said core barrel isin its core-receiving position, said driving means being formed topermit the barrel to then move longitudinally a limited distancerelative to the stem and to maintain such driving relation during suchmovement, and yieldable means normally resisting such movement, saiddriving means including core barrel and drill stem elements, said corebarrel element being movable into its inactive position by said drillstem when said core barrel is let loose substantially at the upper endof said drill stem and permitted to descend by gravity in said drillstem'into its core-receiving position.

GEORGE J. BARRETT.

SOS'I'HENE RQBICHAUX.

